Two representatives have submitted a joint comment to the U.S. Trade Representative in response to its request for input on its proposed Public Interest Trrade Advisory Committee (PITAC). Reps. Davis and Larsen urge that the public advisory system should promote “three key values: balance, participation and inclusion.”
According to the comment, the trade advisory system “should have equal numbers of reprsentatives of different substantive view points on each major policy issue negotiated” (balance). The comment specifically says that representation of intellectual property owners should be balanced by representation of consumers of IP.
The Representatives believe that public interest representatives should have “full participation at every level,” rather than being “segregated” into their own second tier committee (participation). They also believe that membership to the proposed PITAC should be “open to any group or individual who offers relevant expertise and represents relevant interests subject to trade agreement negotiations” – including academics (participation).
